Google Play Store Won’t Work? – Here’s How to Fix It {Android}

It’s happened to all of us, you open Google Play to download that app you’ve heard so much about, but haven’t had time to try out, and nothing happens. It either won’t open or gives you some error, now what? You could just sit there in absolute despair or try the following tips for when the Google Play Store won’t work.

Reboot Your Phone

You were probably expecting a more complicated solution, but many times all your phone needs a simple reboot. Before trying any of the methods below try this first.

Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

Turning Airplane mode on and off again has worked for many. To do this go to Settings > Wireless and Networks > Airplane Mode. Turn it on and wait for 10 seconds and then turn it off again. Check to see if you can access Google Play.

Switch Between Wi-Fi and Mobile Data

To Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data go to Settings > Wireless and networks > Disable Wi-Fi and turn mobile data on. Does Google Play work now? If not turn Wi-Fi back and check again.

Get Rid of Previous Updates

Updates are meant to bring us new features and bug fixes, but many of us know that updates don’t always bring joy and laughter. Some updates only bring problems that our devices didn’t have before installing it. If you only started to have problems with Google Play after getting an update, maybe going back to the previous version will solve your problem.

To uninstall an update go to Settings > Apps or Application Manager > Google Play Store and on the top right tap on More. You should see Uninstall updates. If you are still having problems with Google Plays, then go ahead and reinstall the update and try another method.

Clear Google Play Cache

Clearing the cache is a solution that you may have read about here and there, but it’s worth a try since sometimes it’s all it takes to get the Google Play Store app working again. To clear the Google Play store cache go to Settings > Apps or Applications Manager > Google Play Store App>Storage > Clear Cache. Forcing the Google Play Store to stop has also been known to help.

Clear Play Store Data

If clearing the cache didn’t work, try removing the data. Clearing the data for Google Play will erase your saved information, but in the information that’s erased might be glitchy info that was giving you the problem to start with. By deleting data you lose:

Are Your Time and Date Settings Set Up Correctly?

Google’s servers need to sync with your device and if it can’t, this could explain the issue. To make sure that your Time and Date settings are on Automatic data and time go to Settings > Date and Time < Toggle on Automatic date and time.

If after trying this method Google Play still doesn’t work, try entering the data and time manually. First, you need to turn off Automatic date and time, enter the info manually and then toggle on Automatic date and time.

Turn On Download Manager

Many users have suffered problems with Google Play because they disabled their download manager for some reason. To enable this, go to Settings > Apps or Applications Manager > All > Downloads or Download Manager > Enable.

Turn Off Any VPNs

VPS are great. They allow you to download apps that would normally be out of reach, but they can also be the culprit of why your Google Play Store app isn’t working. Try turning them off by going to Settings > More Connections Settings or More Networks (depends on what device you have).

Still Nothing?

Drastic times call for drastic measures, and that’s where a Factory Reset comes in. A Factory Reset will wipe everything off your phone and turn it into the phone you had when you first took it out of the box. Before doing a reset, backup everything you don’t want to lose and go to Settings > Backup and reset > Scroll down to Factory data reset.

Once you’re there, your device should show you everything that will be eliminated with a reset. Read it carefully and if you agree, tap Reset Device.

Conclusion

Did any of the above methods work? Are you problem free? If so share your positive experience in the comments or even if you’re still having problems, let me know.